Grill Decision

[Whelan]

My first grill I want to stay under $400. I am between the two below. I would love a Weber but I can't get over only having two burners, I like indirect cooking sometimes. Ducane is now owned by Weber and are slightly cheaper in price, but still get good reviews. This model sells for $450 listed but I got 10% off online somewhere with $10 shipping. With all it offers it's hard to pass up. Help me decide, this is my very first grill for me and my lady and occasional family/parties.Weber Spirit E-210 $399 2 burner 26,000 BTUDucane Affinity 3200 $392 shipped!3 burner 36,000 BTUside burner 12,000 BTU

[ponta2147]

My husband gives a thumbs up the Ducane and totally understands the desire for a third burner. We are Weber owners ourselves so we understand how it goes!

[Wolfman213]

Just looking at the number alone, I'd say Ducane. But I'm HORRIBLE at cooking on the grill so I can't help much beyond that.

[Whelan]

Well BTUs are not a true definition of a grills performance. Depending on the size of the cooking area BTUs can vary greatly from 26,000 - 60,000 or more. I pulled the trigger.

[ou.grizzly]

Believe the Spirit version is not made in the US. We have a Weber ourselves (made in the US), purchased 4-5 yrs ago and it heats up quick. Replacement grilling racks can be bought at Home Depot - so parts are available.

[Whelan]

Yeah my dad has a Genesis Silver C (new Genesis E-310 in today's world) about 10 years or so old. Still works perfectly and cooks great! My brother has a Genesis Silver A (the new Spirit E-210). I couldn't pull myself to get just a two burner grill. I bought the Ducane Affinity 3200. The side burner and 3rd main burner wer the binning parts. After research I found that the Ducane and Weber use the same burners, lids, etc. Also Ducanes and the Spirit Webers are made in China, but inspected and put together in the U.S. for inspection so the standards are still high. The new Genesis grills start at $649 for a E-310. You can go up past $800 for a stainless version S-320, crazy! My dad's Genesis Silver C was $450-500 back then.

[KNINE]

I have a hibachi. Only natural wood charcoal for me. No brickets.

[jimincalif]

I have an older Weber model similar to the one you're looking at. I can't figure out why they wasted the whole right-side platform just for the control valves. Others put them on the face, like the Ducane, giving you twice the area to set things on.Between those 2 I'd go with the Ducane.

[A Psycho Martyr]

I just get the forty dollar grill from wal-mart and do my charcoal cooking on it. Mines lasted 3 yrs, but I'll need to get another before summer this year. I've done several family (both sides) and friends cookouts. Simple and easy.

[bull77]

I have one of those generic bbq's i bought at Loblaws -- does what I need it to do..I really want to get a Big Green Egg http://www.biggreenegg.com/

[Kari]

We have a $25 charcoal grill from Walmart...an upgrade from a $5 tabletop model I bought at Goodwill. We've cooked with both using the natural hardwood charcoal with good results. Then you'd have a lot of $$$ to spend on steaks!

[scherry2]

Quote, originally posted by Kari »We have a $25 charcoal grill from Walmart...an upgrade from a $5 tabletop model I bought at Goodwill. We've cooked with both using the natural hardwood charcoal with good results. Then you'd have a lot of $$$ to spend on steaks!

[lovemyraffe]

Go for the Ducane. The extra burner is worth it.

[jake75]

About 1-1/2 years ago, after at least a month of comparison shopping grills, the fact that my last Weber lasted 10 years convinced me to stick with Weber. I got a 3 burner Weber Spirit - the stainless steel model - for $499. The non-stainless version was $399. I did not want a side burner, and a bigger surface (more btu's) would just have meant greater propane use. I don't think they make that in the SS model anymore.It got it at a local independent hardware store 3 miles from me. They assembled and delivered it, and hauled my old one away. Their price was the same as Lowe's etc. plus Lowe's did not carry the ss version.I found some extra grill plates on eBay cheap so I am ready when the originals get too bad.

[joatmon]

Quote, originally posted by ponta2147 »My husband gives a thumbs up the Ducane I'm not up on the latest slang, but that sounds like something that shouldn't be talked about on this site

[jake75]

Looking through this week's MEIJER grocery super store ad I seer a Weber Sprit E-310 3 burners 637 sq in total cooking area (that probably includes the hanging bun warmer) for $499.The E-210 is $399 - that is probably two burners.Meijer is based on Michingan. But I don't think this is a sale as I beleive Weber trys to enforce a standard price on their products.

[Whelan]

Those are def. not sale prices. Weber is pretty strict on their pricing so you won't find one much cheaper than the retail pricing. If you do online, it is most likely not including shipping. (i.e. Weber Spirit E-310 for $399 plus $150 for shipping) or something like that.I bought the Ducane Affinity 3200, it's on its way as we speak in air freight. Shippnig was only $10 and I got it at the price of $392.50. I took the opportunity to look at a 3100 at a local store this weekend to see what I got up close.The 3100 is all black on lid and door. The 3200 is stainless and has the side burner, but the dimensions and main burners are identical. It has nice Stainless Steel grates, easy cleanup it seems and a great size grill. Good build quality and solid. Can't wait to get it together.

[jammies]

*** Check you gas connections***I have a Weber which I use all year. I always shut off the tank as well as the switches when I'm done. Well, the other day when I turned on the tank, I heard and smelled propane pouring out. After checking the tank, I found the connection from the tank to the gas hose to be loose. The only reason I can figure is the weather has gotten dramatically warmer this week and something expanded. Either that or someone wants me dead. So, check your gas connections.

[ponta2147]

Quote, originally posted by joatmon »I'm not up on the latest slang, but that sounds like something that shouldn't be talked about on this site (removed)!!! Oh how typos make things inappropriate.

[Whelan]

I always turn off the tank. It's in the 10 commandments of grilling.

[ou.grizzly]

Quote, originally posted by Whelan »I always turn off the tank. It's in the 10 commandments of grilling.Did you get it yet? Any pictures of the build?

[TONY TAT2]

I chucked my Charbroil gas grill & went back to charcoal,got 2 free really neat smoker grills way back with Marlboro Miles !!!

[IMakeVibes]

Quote, originally posted by Whelan »I bought the Ducane Affinity 3200, it's on its way as we speak in air freight. Shippnig was only $10 and I got it at the price of $392.50. I took the opportunity to look at a 3100 at a local store this weekend to see what I got up close.The 3100 is all black on lid and door. The 3200 is stainless and has the side burner, but the dimensions and main burners are identical. It has nice Stainless Steel grates, easy cleanup it seems and a great size grill. Good build quality and solid. Can't wait to get it together.Sounds like the 3200 you got is a pre '09 model and the 3100 you looked at is a '09 or '10 model. Ducane (or Weber) changed them a bit after '09. Removed some stainless, but also added a back to the cabinet. By the pricing and fact that you got an older model, it sounds like you may have gotten it from GrillsDirect. I got myself a 3400 from there late last year. I'm new to grilling, and have been busy, so haven't used it too much yet, but that will change soon.